Confused About Feed Times and Supply

eggmankate · May 2014

DD is 5.5 months old and I'm trying hard to maintain adequate supply by nursing her on the weekends. I have a hard time knowing when DD is hungry so I just feed her approximately every 3 hours starting from the time she wakes up in the morning because she goes about every 3 hours at daycare. She's a content little baby so this has worked just fine. I also stick to every 3 hours to help maintain my supply. But I'm beginning to wonder--as long as she eats the same number of times a day (6x) will my supply maintain or am I risking a supply a drop if I let her go 4 hours between one feed (and maybe make up for it later by going 2.5 hours between a feed, for instance)? Any tips for how to read her hunger cues? Daycare says she has a "hunger cry", but I don't know what that would sound like because her cries all sound the same to me (whether it's dirty diaper, being tired, etc.).

CLLDLL · May 2014

Once or twice going longer than 3 hours isn't going to damage your supply now that you're almost 6 months out. That being said, I totally agree with PP. Don't watch the clock. Feed when your LO seems bored/tired/clingy/fussy. Feed when you feel like your boobs are getting full. Top him or her off before you head out of the house. This age is when BF'ing really becomes much easier than FF, IMO.

rm2013 · May 2014

I wouldn't go longer than 3 hours. And like PP said, just go by what your baby wants. I really don't think my LO has a hunger cry either - but she's so easy going that when she is super cranky I know she's hungry. On the weekends I do 3 hours as a rule, but most days she will want to feed at the 2 or 2 1/2 hour mark at least once , and that's fine, we just pick up 3 hours after that one, no adjustments. I also always feed her before naptime even if it's early so that she can sleep soundly and not miss a meal.

Also, since you mention your concern is maintaining supply, do you do a pumping session before you go to bed? That really helped keep my supply up and build my stash. Just a suggestion.

Lena122 · May 2014

Personally I like to nurse often on my days off just because I miss it while I'm at work. Does your LO root around at all? That's my DD's biggest hunger cue. I generally just nurse whenever she seems fussy or right before go anywhere. It's almost always every 2 to 2.5 hours during the day.

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